Cincinnati, East Side, West Side and more love

I've been getting some really good feedback about my Cincinnati Love stickers (I've got mine on my car!) So I've ordered stickers to give out for free to get the word spread!

Cincinnati, however, is more of an 'umbrella' if you will. So I've decided to break it down a bit, to more specific areas!

See more below!

Cincinnati Love

I know those 'I Love Cincinnati' stickers are everywhere, but I wanted to be different and make my own. So I did. What do you think?



I'm going to do a test run with my Xyron machine at home and put one in my back window. If enough people like them, I might just get some professionally made and sell them. Let me know what you think so I can get a better idea!

You can buy some here :)

I mean, 2 years is long time.

Congratulations to me and Todd! Todd and and I have reached our 2 year anniversary! We had a fun filled day for sure. He made me lunch, which is huge in itself ;) then we did a little shopping in the gateway quarter downtown. After that, we headed to Sungs for a drink or 2 before freezing our tails off at the Festival of Lights at the Cincinnati Zoo. I was a little bummed out this time around because they are doing construction on the Cat House, therefore it wasn't open to the public. We did, however, get some souvenir mugs for our hot chocolate. :)

Always a good sight - my man cooking for me :)

It was cold!!!

Todd did a great job with my gift this year - beautiful turquoise earrings and a bracelet to go with it. He also got me some Eye of Ra earrings!





I gave Todd a bracelet that I found at Mr. Grim's Nostalgic Nook down in New Richmond, Ohio, from a little day trip we took this summer. It's a silver ID bracelet, so I had it engraved with our anniversary date, 12-27-08. I also drew him a picture of the Joker, whom he absolutely loves.


It's been a wonderful 2 years and I can't wait to celebrate another New Year with Todd!

Merry Christmas!

There's snow outside, Christmas joy is in the air and I've been a busy little bird.

First, here's this years Christmas card. Which, I have to apologize to a few people - I accidentally put 3 envelopes in the mail without a stamp, and I don't know who they were addressed to! Hold tight, as soon as they come back to me in the mail (fingers crossed) I'll send them out again; this time with stamps!


Second, there's a new restaurant of the month and song of the week!

If you haven't been to The Wine Guy Bistro in Rookwood Commons, you need to check it out. Amazing food, great wine and a trendy atmosphere. Todd and I had the bruschetta, Italian wedding soup and the Margherita pizza - simply delicious!

This week's song was on Glee a few weeks ago, in the episode 'Special Education'. I loved these songs, and purchased them before the episode was even over! Their cover of 'I've Had the Time of My Life' by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warnes and 'Valerie' by Amy Winehouse was soulful, impressive and inevitably catchy with a hint of toe tappin' in there somewhere! Check the link to watch the performance.

And lastly, I've been busy painting some beautiful heels! All 3 pairs are currently on display in Dutch's Wine Shop in Hyde Park, and also available on my Etsy shop - which is here if you haven't been there before. Check the pictures below!

Audrey Hepburn

Marilyn Monroe

Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra

In other good news, I sold my Beatles paintings, Cary Grant and Grace Kelly within a few weeks of each other last month! Thanks to my supporters :)

Merry Christmas everyone - I hope you have a blessed holiday with your families and loved ones.

Cecil Flies the Mogul

I was recently commissioned to do the album artwork for a local musician, BJ Schweinlin and his project Cecil Flies the Mogul. He wanted a Shepard Fairey inspired look, which I thought was awesome, since I love Shepard Fairey!

It turned out great - I'm very happy with it, as was BJ! Check it out - let me know what you think!


His music is very cool, electronic genre type of music. I will keep you up to date on when and where you can find his music.

I Pity The Fool!

Ta-da! Finally done and being taken to Dutch's tonight for hanging :)


24x36 Oil on canvas

Everyone needs a little Girl Talk

Holy crap. Girl Talk's new album came out yesterday - which he released for free on his website - and wow, does it impress! This album of gritty raw mash ups has been playing in my headphones non stop. He's got quite a few albums, but this one is by far my favorite.

Girl Talk is also coming to The Madison Theater in January - Todd and I are going and I cannot wait! It's sure to be a power house of a show.

For more information on Girl Talk and what he does, visit his website here.


And for the restaurant of the month - go to your neighborhood Skyline and enjoy :) The invention of the canned Skyline chili has been a very dangerous, but pleasant addiction for me and my pantry!

A total Cincinnati tradition, I encourage everyone who hasn't tried it to do so - because it's amazing!

Just in time for Christmas!

The book is here everyone!

Puppy Pilots is officially ready for order. Buy your copy now for your Christmas presents for the little ones!

www.puppypilots.net - and spread the word!

Where's the motivation? I don't know.

These days, I'm struggling to stay motivated to get my work done. I've got a painting on the easel right now that needs to be done asap. But what am I doing? Writing about it. Which typically is the last step of my process before I get so fed up with myself for not painting, that I just finally get up and put the paint brush to the canvas.

Mr. T is waiting for me as we speak, but as I look at the work I've done so far, and realize that the amount of work still left to do (which isn't a lot by the way), is still not enough for me to loosen the ever so tight grip that my extremely comfortable chaise lounge chair has on me. ::Sigh::

Not to mention, I still have quite a few other freelance projects that need working on. I don't have the overwhelmed, all-I-can-do-is-sit-here-and-cry kind of feeling about it, however, I still know they need to be done, and I'm still... sitting... and writing about it.

Maybe it was the Puppy Pilots children's book project that sucked it all out of me. As much fun as that project was, I have never worked harder on a project in the small time frame I was given - all of 3 weeks to take 13 pages of illustrations, from concept stages to final full color plus the book cover, front and back. All while continuing my regular life consisting of a full time job, another project of painting a mural at a daycare, moving out of the apartment I was living in and dealing with the death of my very first pet ever, Missi, who I got when I was 7. Those 3 weeks were hell, and a very big THANK YOU to Todd who helped me through the very emotional, very stressed out roller coaster ride I was on.

The book however, should be a success - and I will be receiving my copy of the book shortly in the mail from Duke Morgan, who is the author, and a very talented voiceover and production extraordinaire from Las Vegas. I will update you when the book gets here!

Back to my the-filing-cabinet-fell-over-in-my-head unorganized spew of a blog post.

The sad reality is, that I'm kind of exhausted with freelance work. I can't remember the last time I did any artwork for me. For my portfolio. For Dutch's. People are buying my work, and I couldn't be happier. Except that the work is leaving the shop and nothing is coming back in to replace it. I love doing freelance work. I love painting specific things for people and seeing their faces light up when I hand them the completed piece of work - it makes me happy to be a part of something that is so special to them. Now, having said that, I haven't painted anything for me. I don't have any downtime to do such a thing. And what's worse - I haven't even had the desire to. Because as soon as I get the thought in my head that I want to paint something for me, then I remember that I have freelance work to do and people are waiting for it. Which in turn, extinguishes the desire to do anything for me.

I hope I'm not shooting myself in the foot by putting this in cyber ink, but after Christmas, I think I'm going to take some time off of freelance work. I need to focus on doing what I need to do to progress my career in art. I want to paint more for me; I want to paint because I genuinely want to, and not because I have to do it for someone else. I have a legitimate business now, R.Ewers Designs, LLC, that I need to do something with. Todd and I have all these ideas and things going on in our heads, and I don't have the time, nor the desire to pursue after working all day, and then doing freelance. It sucks, but I've really just become unmotivated.

Todd and I saw the Social Network last night and we both walked out of there with the wheels in our heads moving. I told Todd that within the year, I want to get my business started and make something out of myself before I turn 30. Now, 30 is still 5 years away, but we all know how much of a procrastinator I am and I have to give myself ample time! ;)

So what will my New Year's Resolution be for next year? Focus on myself and my artwork and to not feel pressured into saying 'yes' every time someone asks me to do a project for them. I've got to learn how to say 'no'.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween!! Todd and I went to our friend Paul's house tonight for a party, and I am happy to that our costumes were awesome!!

Us as Betty and Barney Rubble

Also, I decided it was time to get 2 new cats. They are real gems! I adopted them from The Ohio Valley AlleyCat Rescue.

This is Steve (black cat) and Sabrina (gray cat).




They are awesome cats!

39 ways to say Beautiful

Here's the latest painting I've done for a friend. This one is going in a little girls room. It's 'Beautiful' in 39 different languages. This was a great project to work on, and very enlightening to learn how to say a word in so many languages. 24 x 30, Acrylics. Enjoy!

Blue Ash Educational Center Mural

Christie and I finished the second room at the Blue Ash Educational Center! Pictures below.

Puppy Pilots

I was given a great opportunity about 3 weeks ago. I was given the chance to illustrate a children's book! What an eye opening experience - and exhausting. The reason it was so tiring, was because I had to have 13 pages, (56 illustrations in all) inked in and taken to full color, along with a front and back cover all done is 3 weeks. Holy crap! I was up every morning at 6:30, working till 8am. Going to work from 9-6, and coming home and working from 7-1:30 am. I was so tired, my back hurt, my eyes hurt, and hand hurt, my drawing arm spazzed out, went numb, I lost some hair and I had bags under my eyes. But it was so worth it!!!

The name of the book is Puppy Pilots™. Here's the cover:


It's an adorable story, written by Duke Morgan. Look for it soon! It should be coming out in October I think.

I'm also moving again! I am finally a resident of Ohio again - oh how I missed it here. It's a great little place, with a huge balcony and a great view.

On a sad note, my sweet baby kitty of 18 years passed away last week. I got Missi on my 7th birthday and she has been with me through it all. I know though that she passed away in her sleep, quietly and not in pain. I couldn't ask for anything more for her. It's very awkward to not have her in the house. I hear the floor creak, and think it's her walking around. No one comes running anymore when I open the fridge, or when the can opener is running. I know that she had a great life - because I spoiled her like crazy!!!

This was the day I got her, almost 19 years ago.

She was such a pretty kitten!

And she was a gorgeous cat - this was taken just a month or two ago. Her favorite spot, on my windowsill.

R.I.P. Missi
1992-2010

Mural Work

Here is the sketch I mentioned earlier. This is a very personal mural piece that's going in the house of a friend. The doves and the angels represent him and his family.

Call me 'Official' and I'll Answer!

It's official - You're reading the blog of the proud Principle Member and Owner of R.Ewers Designs, LLC. I am a small business owner in the state of Ohio everyone!! Go me! Thanks for everyone's support and I can't wait for you all to see some things I've got under way. Good things are happening ladies and gentlemen! :)

Also, my apologies for being away - I was relaxing on the beach in Destin last week with my family. Read an amazing book - The Last Lecture - and it's definitely got me kick started on kicking procrastination in the butt. I know, I know - we have a love/hate relationship; procrastination and me.



Great news - I've been hired to illustrate a children's book this week! As soon as I believe it's legally ok, I'll post some sketches and jib jab so you can see.

Working on a mural sketch for a friend - that will be done tonight and I'll post the prelim sketch shortly.

Also did a painting of the beach in Destin - almost done with that too!

Busy busy busy! And just to keep me going - check out the song of the week - this definitely get's me pumped to keep moving!

I got my award!

I'm pleased to show you that I finally received my award from City Beat today!

Now I can hang it next to my spot in Cincy Magazine. My collection is starting to grow!

Thanks again to everyone who voted!

What happens when your plate is full? Become part of the 'Clean Plate Club'!

Or maybe that just applies to food - that's what my dad always said anyway.

But my plate is definitely full and I'm loving it!!

I've decided I'm moving again; I can't wait to start over in a new place, furnish it and have a bigger kitchen. Yesterday, my Elizabeth Taylor drawing sold at Dutch's Pony Keg- super excited about that. I'm doing a Frank Sinatra piece now to replace that one. I've also decided I'm writing a book. I won't put anything up about it just yet - I've starting writing my first thoughts down, but before I introduce any excerpts to the world, I want something more solid. Surely you understand!

Next weekend, Todd and I are going to Chicago to visit a friend - it'll be our first road trip together, although he'll be sleeping the entire time since I'm picking him up after he gets off work at 5am.

The week after that I'm going to Florida with my family - my first real vacation in 6 years! When I say 'real' I mean - literally laying on the beach with nothing to do - no planner telling me I have to do anything, but just making sure that I get the sand and salt off my skin before dinner. So pumped!

Below is a drawing that I did, a tattoo design for my friend Josh. He's a Cincinnati boy at heart which I think is great! Who dey!


Recently I did the River Sweep - talk about a fun experience! Cleaning up the banks of the Ohio River was so liberating and motivational!

Me and my bags of trash!

My friend Linda and I found this bean sprout thing growing on the completely sodded (and gross I might add) upholstery of what we assumed to be the carpet of a car which was hiding underneath some rocks. I was going to take it home and plant it but by the end of the day, I had forgotten all about it!

I know one of my previous posts talked about the Shepard Fairey party at CAC. What I don't think I mentioned was that the day after, all the event pictures were posted on Cincinnati.com - I just happened to be featured on the front page of Cincinnati.com too! I met Tesse (pictured with me) that night at the party - who turned our to be a super cool chick!



Well, off to finish my drawing of Frankie boy and go apartment hunting later!

Life couldn't be better right now and I'm so excited for all the possibilities in my future.

Hello - I'm back!

Wow - what a crazy couple months it's been! I've been busy with artwork and freelance, and just life in general, that I've have hardly any time to blog!

To get you up to speed.. here's a few things that I did in the last couple months.

In May, I went to the Shepard Fairey party at the Contemporary Art Center. I didn't have anyone to go with - but I had gotten a free ticket at the very last minute. So I went - mingled, drank wine and talked it up with some other artsey people. Then, I saw Shepard himself. I was as giddy as if I had seen someone like Brad Pitt. So I walked up to him, patiently waited for him to finish his conversation with someone else (in a non creepy way) and made my move. Business card in hand and ready to network! I told him that I got voted Best Artist of Cincinnati of 2010, and he responded with, "Really! I would love to see your work!" We exchanged business cards, I asked for a picture with him like a dork and we went our separate ways. I was so excited.


The party was awesome - it was located in the alley behind the CAC and a few other places. They had a DJ stage, where Shepard Fairey was DJing (his other hobby), they also had a few skate ramps down one side of the alley and my personal favorite, they turned a RUMPKE dumpster into a swimming pool - complete with beach balls.




In case you do not know who Shepard Fairey is or what he is responsible for - see below!

© Shepard Fairey

© Shepard Fairey

© Shepard Fairey

It ended up being a fabulous night in Cincinnati!

Todd and I took a day a few weeks ago and went to the Landing in New Richmond, and afterward took a little drive around the town. We ran into a store called Mr. Grim's Nostalgic Nook. WOW. What a store. Every toy imaginable there!


The owner is a real nice guy, and most of this is from his personal collection. I really recommend taking a trip to this guys store - it's so worth the drive.

Located at 128 Front St., New Richmond, Ohio 45157

On top of that, here's 2 of the portraits I've done recently. I'll have the third up soon!




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